Method for contructing check dam or fire prevention dam using gear-type block

ABSTRACT

A method for constructing a check dam or a fire prevention dam using a gear-type block comprises depositing a bottom mat for protecting weak ground or a mat for containing water on a prepared river bed of a river or a valley; piling a plurality of gear-type blocks such that adjacent blocks are connected together using connecting rings provided at the lateral parts of the block, and lower and upper blocks are engaged with each other by means of projections and grooves formed at the upper and lower parts of the block; and forming a block mattress on said bottom mat at upper and lower streams of the lower end of said dam structure by horizontal engagement of blocks.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a method for constructing acheck dam or a fire prevention dam, and more particularly to a methodfor constructing a check dam using a gear-type block capable of storingsoil and stones and discharging water through a space between blocks toprevent a flood disaster due to rising of a river route and a waterlevel caused by incoming and accumulation of the soil and stones from abranch river to a main river, and a method for constructing a fireprevention dam using a gear-type block capable of providing anartificial water containing facility at a remote place to supply fireprevention water for early prompt suppression of a forest fire when itoccurs, and also capable of providing a spawning and inhabitation groundfor animals and plants at the waterside to contribute to thepreservation of an ecosystem.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a river sill is a concrete beam with a gravity section. Sucha sill is mainly constructed with underwater concrete by a field placingmethod. In the course of the field placing of the concrete, however,water pollution grows worse, and inhabitation environment for riverfishes is destroyed. In addition, erosion occurs severely at the lowerend of the sill after the construction of the sill has been completed.Especially, the sill may be damaged due to a flood, which requiresrepair or reconstruction of the sill.

In order to overcome the aforesaid drawbacks in carrying out such anuniformed concrete placing method, there has been an attempt to proposea method for constructing a bank protecting wall using a bank protectingblock, which has the advantage of natural purification, such as waterimprovement, to some extent. Nevertheless, consideration regarding theprovision of a spawning and inhabitation ground for river fishes andvegetation environment for plants at the waterside is insufficient,which does not endow the river with vital force. Consequently, it isrequired to construct a bank protection facility capable of protectingthe environment with the self-purification of the river and thepreservation of an ecosystem.

Furthermore, if hydraulic properties of the river structural part, suchas a sill, a check dam, or the like, and the ground connection part isnot considered in case of the bank protection facility, soil and sandbecome washed away from the ground connection part by a flood, whichleads to collapse of the banks. This is because sand or pebbles at theriverbed adjacent to the fixed concrete structure have a very low degreeof a water current tolerance, resulting in that the sand or pebbles arewashed away or eroded. Consequently, it is also required to provide amethod for protecting a bank in consideration of bending resistance of aboundary between the protection bank and the river bed and reinforcementof the connection parts.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is disclosed in order to overcome the drawbackscaused in the bank protection works as mentioned above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method forconstructing a check dam using a gear-type block capable of storing soiland stones and discharging water through a space between blocks sincethe check dam is constructed using the gear-type block of a prominenceand depression structure to prevent a flood disaster due to rising of ariver route and a water level caused by incoming and accumulation of thesoil and stones from a branch river to a main river.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor constructing a fire prevention dam using a gear-type block capableof providing an artificial water containing facility at a remote placeto supply fire prevention water for early prompt suppression of a forestfire when it occurs, and also capable of providing a spawning andinhabitation ground for animals and plants at the waterside normal timesto contribute to the preservation of an ecosystem.

In order to accomplish the aforesaid object of the present invention,there is provided a method for constructing a check dam using agear-type block, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) depositing a bottom mat for protecting weak ground on a        prepared river bed of a river or a valley where the check dam is        to be constructed such that said mat is spread over the area        broader than designed area of a bottom of the dam structure to        be constructed;    -   (b) piling a plurality of gear-type blocks in a form of a        pyramid on said river bed where said bottom mat is deposited,        each of said gear-type blocks including an upper part and an        lower part having projections and a groove thereon respectively,        said upper and lower parts being provided for engaging one of        said piled blocks with another block when the piling step is        performed, each of said gear-type blocks including a middle part        having a through hole of a predetermined dimension formed        therein, each of said gear-type blocks including four lateral        parts each having a ring for connecting adjacent blocks formed        thereon; and    -   (c) depositing a plurality of native rock-type blocks in the        form of a block mattress on said bottom mat at upper and lower        streams of the lower end of said dam structure by connecting        said native rock-type blocks together with said rings, each of        said native rock-type blocks including irregular projections        formed diagonally thereon, gaps defined by said projections in        which soil is to be filled, and rings provided diagonally at the        corners for connecting adjacent blocks.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said adjacent blocksare connected together by fixing U-shaped bolts to said rings formed atthe lateral parts of each block when said gear-type blocks are piled upin the form of a pyramid at the step (b).

Furthermore, said dam structure is constructed in the form of a pyramidsuch that a middle part of the structure is arranged at the level lowerthan either side part of the structure adjacent to either bank of thevalley, which prevents any collapse due to pressure of enormous amountof water by letting a portion of the water out over the lower middlepart if the volume of water kept in store is increased suddenly due to alocalized torrential downpour.

In order to accomplish the aforesaid object of the present invention,there is also provided a method for constructing a fire prevention damusing a gear-type block, comprising the steps of:

-   -   (a) depositing a mat for containing water on a prepared river        bed of a river or a valley where the fire prevention dam is to        be constructed such that said mat is spread over the area        broader than designed area of a bottom of the dam structure to        be constructed;    -   (b) preparing a first vertical pileup of a plurality of        gear-type blocks on said river bed where said mat for containing        water is deposited, each of said gear-type blocks including an        upper part and an lower part having projections and a groove        thereon respectively, said upper and lower parts being provided        for engaging one of said piled locks with another block when the        piling step is performed, each of said gear-type locks including        a middle part having a through hole of a predetermined dimension        formed therein, each of said gear-type blocks including four        lateral parts each having a ring for connecting adjacent blocks        formed thereon;    -   (c) depositing a mat for containing water at the outer surface        of the containing water along said first vertical pileup of the        structure;    -   (d) providing a second vertical pileup of a plurality of        gear-type blocks same as said gear-type blocks used in the        step (b) at the outer surface of the containing water along said        first vertical pileup of the structure where said mat for        containing water is deposited; and    -   (e) arranging said gear-type blocks in the form of a block        mattress on said mat for containing water at upper and lower        streams of the lower end of said dam structure obtained from        said first and second vertical pileup of the structure by        connecting said gear-type blocks together with said rings.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said second verticalpileup of the gear-type blocks is provided in the step (d) such that apileup surface at the lower stream of the structure is inclined at apredetermined angle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of preferred embodimentswith reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a gear-type blockemployed in a method for constructing a check dam or a fire preventiondam using a gear-type block according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a block mattress structure formed byconnecting the gear-type blocks of FIG. 1 each other;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a native rock-typeblock employed in a method for constructing a check dam using agear-type block according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a check dam constructed by a method forconstructing a check dam using a gear-type block according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the check dam of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a fire prevention damconstructed by a method for constructing a fire prevention dam using agear-type block according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A gear-type block or a native rock-type block employed in a method forconstructing a check dam or a fire prevention dam will be describedprior to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of a gear-type blockemployed in a method for constructing a check dam or a fire preventiondam using a gear-type block according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a gear-type block 100 employed in a method forconstructing a check dam or a fire prevention dam is of a rectangle in aplan section. At the upper and lower part of the block is formed aprojection 101 and a groove 102, which is adjacent to the projection101, respectively. When the blocks are deposited on the surface of ariver bed, the projection 101 and the groove 102, which constitute aprominence and depression structure, are embedded into the river bed tosome degree so that the blocks withstand a running water and the safedeposit of the blocks are maintained, and the projection 101 and thegroove 102 are engaged with each other when the blocks are piled up tokeep the construction of the block structure secure. Furthermore, at themiddle part of the block is formed a through hole 103 of a predetermineddimension, which decreases buoyancy when the block is sunk into thewater and stabilize the river bed due to accumulation of soil and sandor small pebbles therein after the construction has been completed, andat four lateral parts of the block are provided steel rings 104 forconnecting adjacent blocks respectively. In this case, the steel ring104 is made of deformed bar, although a stainless steel pipe may becoated on the outer surface of the deformed bar or the ring may be madeof stainless steel if the block is constructed under sea water (saltwater).

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a block mattress structure formed byconnecting the gear-type blocks of FIG. 1 each other. As shown in FIG.2, the gear-type blocks 100 are connected with each other in a plane bythe steel rings 104 to constitute a block mattress structure 200 of apredetermined dimension. At this time, the steel rings 104 are connectedwith each other by U-shaped bolts 110. Of course, other similarconnecting means may be used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of a native rock-typeblock employed in a method for constructing a check dam using agear-type block according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a native rock-type block 300 employed in a methodfor constructing a check dam using a gear-type block according to thepresent invention has irregular projections 301 formed diagonallythereon. Between the irregular projections 301 is formed gaps 302 inwhich soil is to be filled, and steel rings 303 are provided diagonallyat the corners for connecting adjacent blocks. The native rock-typeblocks 300 constructed as described above are connected with each otherby connecting the steel rings 303 each other using U-shaped bolts, as inthe gear-type block 100.

A method for constructing a check dam or a fire prevention dam using agear-type block or a native rock-type block according to the presentinvention will be now described.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a check dam constructed by a method forconstructing a check darn using a gear-type block according to thepresent invention; FIG. 4 is a front view and FIG. 5 is across-sectional view of the check dam.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in accordance with a method forconstructing a check dam using a gear-type block according to thepresent invention, a bottom mat 500 for protecting weak ground isdeposited on a prepared river bed 400 of a river or a valley where thecheck dam is to be constructed such that said mat is spread over thearea broader than designed area of a bottom of the dam structure to beconstructed. In this case, the bottom mat 500 may be made of civilengineering fiber.

After the deposition of the bottom mat 500 has been completed, thegear-type blocks 100, which includes an upper part and an lower parthaving projections 101 and a groove 102 thereon respectively and beingprovided for engaging one of the piled blocks with another block whenthe piling step is performed, a middle part having a through hole 103 ofa predetermined dimension formed therein, and four lateral parts eachhaving a ring 104 for connecting adjacent blocks formed thereon, asshown in FIG. 1, are piled up in a form of a pyramid on the river bedwhere the bottom mat 500 is deposited.

At this time, the adjacent blocks are connected together by fixing therings 104 formed at the lateral parts of each block using U-shaped bolts110, preferably as in FIG. 2, when the gear-type blocks 100 are piled upin the form of a pyramid. And, the gear-type blocks are piled up suchthat the projection 101 and the groove 102 formed on the upper and lowerparts of each block are engaged with each other.

Moreover, the dam structure is constructed in the form of a pyramid suchthat a middle part of the structure is arranged at the level lower thaneither side part of the structure adjacent to either bank of the valley,as shown in FIG. 4, which prevents any collapse due to pressure ofenormous amount of water by letting a portion of the water out over thelower middle part if the volume of water kept in store is increasedsuddenly due to a localized torrential downpour.

After the formation of the dam structure has been completed as mentionedabove, on the bottom mat 500 at upper and lower streams of the lower endof the dam structure are deposited native rock-type blocks 300, whichincludes irregular projections 301 formed diagonally thereon, gaps 302defined by the projections in which soil is to be filled, and rings 303provided diagonally at the corners for connecting adjacent blocks, asshown in FIG. 3, in the form of a block mattress by connecting thenative rock-type blocks 300 together with the rings 303. At this time,the connection of the native rock-type blocks 300 is accomplished byconnecting the steel rings 303 each other using the U-shaped bolts as inthe connection of the gear-type blocks 100. As mentioned above, thenative rock-type blocks 300 are deposited in the mattress structure atthe upper and lower streams of the lower end of the dam structure inorder to prevent any local erosion due to running water.

With the check dam constructed as described above, soil and stones areblocked by the dam structure, and water is discharged through a spacebetween the gear-type blocks 100. Consequently, it is possible toprevent any flood disaster due to reduction of the cross section throughwhich the water passes and rising of a water level caused by incomingand accumulation of the soil and stones into mid-stream or downstream ofthe river. Furthermore, the soil filled in the gaps 302 formed on thenative rock-type blocks 300 is connected to the ground of the river bedto provide an environment in which a water plant is vegetated.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a fire prevention damconstructed by a method for constructing a fire prevention dam using agear-type block according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in accordance with a method for constructing a fireprevention dam using a gear-type block, a mat 600 for containing wateris deposited on a prepared river bed 400 of a river or a valley wherethe fire prevention dam is to be constructed such that said mat isspread over the area broader than designed area of a bottom of the damstructure to be constructed. In this case, the mat 600 for containingwater may be made of non-woven fabric with no water permeability, suchas polyester.

After the deposition of the mat 600 for containing water has beencompleted, a plurality of gear-type blocks 100 as shown in FIG. 1 areplied up vertically on the river bed 400 where the mat 600 forcontaining water is deposited. Then, a mat 600′ for containing water isdeposited along the outer surface of the containing water of the firstpileup structure. The reason why the mat 600′ for containing water isdeposited is that the structure of the fire prevention dam must be ableto contain and store the water unlike the check dam of FIG. 4 and FIG.5.

After the deposition of the mat 600′ for containing water has beencompleted, a plurality of gear-type blocks 100 same as the aforesaidgear-type blocks are piled up at the outer surface of the containingwater of the first pileup structure where the mat 600′ for containingwater is deposited. At this time, the second vertical pileup of thegear-type blocks is provided such that a pileup surface at the lowerstream of the structure is inclined at a predetermined angle, which isfor the sake of the structural stability of the piled dam structure.

After the first and second vertical pileup of the structure have beenaccomplished, the gear-type blocks 100 are arranged in the form of ablock mattress, as shown in FIG. 2, on the mat 600 for containing waterat upper and lower streams of the lower end of the dam structureobtained from the first and second vertical pileup of the structure byconnecting the gear-type blocks together with the steel rings 104.

In the fire prevention dam constructed as described above, local erosionoccurs at the front end of the upper stream of the fire prevention damas the amount and speed of the flow increase. However, since each of thegear-type blocks 100 in the block mattress structure is connected witheach other by the steel ring 104, the block mattress structure hasvendibility due to self weight when the ground of the river bed iseroded locally. Consequently, some of the blocks 100 are inclined to astable angle along to the slope of the eroded area, as shown in FIG. 6.As a result, any further erosion into the inner side of the fireprevention dam is prevented.

Meanwhile, the aforesaid fire prevention dam provides an artificialwater containing facility at a remote place to shorten the distance andtime for delivering water by a helicopter and thus supply fireprevention water for early prompt suppression of a forest fire when itoccurs. As a result, the damage due to a forest fire is minimized. Inaddition, the fire prevention dam is used as a source for drinking waternormal times, and provides a spawning and inhabitation ground foranimals and plants at the waterside to contribute to the preservation ofan ecosystem and protect wild animals.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

With a method for constructing a check dam or a fire prevention damusing a gear-type block according to the present invention, it ispossible to store soil and stones and discharging water through a spacebetween blocks since the check dam is constructed using the gear-typeblock of a prominence and depression structure, thereby preventing aflood disaster due to rising of a river route and a water level causedby incoming and accumulation of the soil and stones from a branch riverto a main river. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an artificialwater containing facility at a remote place, thereby supplying fireprevention water for early prompt suppression of a forest fire when itoccurs, and to provide a spawning and inhabitation ground for animalsand plants at the waterside normal times to contribute to thepreservation of an ecosystem.

1. A method for constructing a check dam using a gear-type block,comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a bottom mat for protecting weakground on a prepared river bed of a river or a valley where the checkdam is to be constructed such that said mat is spread over the areabroader than designed area of a bottom of the dam structure to beconstructed; (b) piling a plurality of gear-type blocks in a form of apyramid on said river bed where said bottom mat is deposited, each ofsaid gear-type blocks including an upper part and an lower part havingprojections and a groove thereon respectively, said upper and lowerparts being provided for engaging one of said piled blocks with anotherblock when the piling step is performed, each of said gear-type blocksincluding a middle part having a through hole of a predetermineddimension formed therein, each of said gear-type blocks including fourlateral parts each having a ring for connecting adjacent blocks formedthereon; and (c) depositing a plurality of native rock-type blocks inthe form of a block mattress on said bottom mat at upper and lowerstreams of the lower end of said dam structure by connecting said nativerock-type blocks together with said rings, each of said native rock-typeblocks including irregular projections formed diagonally thereon, gapsdefined by said projections in which soil is to be filled, and ringsprovided diagonally at the corners for connecting adjacent blocks. 2.The method as clamed in claim 1, wherein said adjacent blocks areconnected together by fixing U-shaped bolts to said rings formed at thelateral parts of each block when said gear-type blocks are piled up inthe form of a pyramid at the step (b).
 3. The method as clamed in claim1, wherein said dam structure is constructed in the form of a pyramidsuch that a middle part of the structure is arranged at the level lowerthan either side part of the structure adjacent to either bank of thevalley.
 4. A method for constructing a fire prevention dam using agear-type block, comprising the steps of: (a) depositing a mat forcontaining water on a prepared river bed of a river or a valley wherethe fire prevention dam is to be constructed such that said mat isspread over the area broader than designed area of a bottom of the damstructure to be constructed; (b) preparing a first vertical pileup of aplurality of gear-type blocks on said river bed where said mat forcontaining water is deposited, each of said gear-type blocks includingan upper part and an lower part having projections and a groove thereonrespectively, said upper and lower parts being provided for engaging oneof said piled blocks with another block when the piling step isperformed, each of said gear-type blocks including a middle part havinga through hole of a predetermined dimension formed therein, each of saidgear-type blocks including four lateral parts each having a ring forconnecting adjacent blocks formed thereon; (c) depositing a mat forcontaining water at the outer surface of the containing water along saidfirst vertical pileup of the structure; (d) providing a second verticalpileup of a plurality of gear-type blocks same as said gear-type blocksused in the step (b) at the outer surface of the containing water alongsaid first vertical pileup of the structure where said mat forcontaining water is deposited; and (e) arranging said gear-type blocksin the form of a block mattress on said mat for containing water atupper and lower streams of the lower end of said dam structure obtainedfrom said first and second vertical pileup of the structure byconnecting said gear-type blocks together with said rings.
 5. The methodas clamed in claim 4, wherein said second vertical pileup of thegear-type blocks is provided in the step (d) such that a pileup surfaceat the lower stream of the structure is inclined at a predeterminedangle.